Positions to draft

[PhxGametime]

Julian Wright is looking pretty good tonight, he came into Freshman year hyped as a Lottery Pick and this is really the first Game I've seen but I've heard he has struggled this year but watching this Game - Coach put him at the 4 position of recent and has picked it up of late (broadcasters mentioned)... he looks soooo much like Boris Diaw out there.


Anywho I wanted to put him on my List because with him struggling he likely won't be a high Pick but I had figured he had no chance of coming out this year but I am gonna go check out his stats and if he even thinks about entering Draft... I'd be interested. Just another 4 that could put up Diaw stats: reb, ast, stl, blk.


I'm not worried about duplications, he showed a lot of talent this past summer and the Suns have 2 Picks as of right now...


I'll get to see Nick Fazekas in less than 1 hour...

 

[hcsilla]

Julian Wright is a nice prospect, he reminded me of Gerald Wallace.

 

[PhxGametime]

Have you seen Richard Roby, hcsilla? I was getting a tape ready and I watched last 5 minutes of Game and he was flying all over the place, at least being active on defending jumpshots, playing passing lanes, and running court... made a few 3PTers, looked solid out there and on commercial break - they showed a highlight of a dunk but apparently they were saying he doesn't do that very often.


I just wanted to watch a few minutes, I've seen him shoot up Draftboard and then I started taping asu/Cal game weeks or a month ago and turning it on and off during game... I heard(I believe DeVon Hardin) is getting better grades from NBA scouts than Leon Powe... I'd like to watch that game today, if I can (probably 10 minutes game-time lol) I want to see his athleticism...


Roby may not be there but Hardin is at least 6'9 PF that mentioned could jump out of gym...

 

[elindholm]

Something tells me that there's no way in hell the Suns are going to draft a guy named Richard Roby.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm addressing a philosophy, not attacking you personally, so please don't take this the wrong way.

Show me a time in the past 30 years where a young player has been successfully "groomed" by watching an older player. It just doesn't happen anymore. That went out with feathered hair, man. Players get "groomed" for stardom by a) having a significant amount of talent and skill in the first place and b) and being given lots and lots of playing time. The idea of transitioning between one fading star to a rising one is as quaint as romance and chivalry. If it happens these days it's because the old star has already been spent and he's just collecting a salary while the new kid takes all his minutes and gets thrown into the shark tank to learn how to survive.

I'm going to go out on a limb here ... when Steve Nash retires or his body finally gives out, D'Antoni will be fired and the team will retool with some new coach and a new collection of talent. There won't be some new crazy talented PG to take Nash's role. He's unique and there's no one like him, and when he's done so are the current Suns. That's the state of the NBA. Either that, or the Suns will undergo another slow burn decline until management figures out they have to do something different.

though your first comment may be true the second most assuredly is not. i cannot remember a time in the present-day suns' history, other than right after we traded marbs, that we didn't have a premier pg. the team will acquire someone. of that i have no doubt. kj - kidd - marbury - nash. that's going back close to 20 years of top notch pg play, isn't it?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Something tells me that there's no way in hell the Suns are going to draft a guy named Richard Roby.

maybe this is the retribution they've looking for? perhaps they draft him and trade him to the celtics for their first round pick which is used to draft our all-star pg of the future. i mean, it's only fair . . . .

 

[panfolk]

Anyone else see a lot of players they like the skills of but don't think they'd be a good choice for the Suns. I'm thinking of the Paul Millsaps of the world I guess. DraftExpress's worst case scenario is Reggie Evans. That's not too shabby.

With Farmar going to the 2007 draft from the looks of things I'm liking the Hassan Adams/Matt Haryasz draft gaddabout suggested more and more. I just have the impression from what I've read that Fazekas is even less likely than Haryasz to be able to handle the bruiser bigs of the NBA. BBall 31 you never gave your critique on Fazekas.

 

[George O'Brien]

One guy that is creeping up in the mocks is Brandon Roy of Washington. I fear he's going to be this year's Iggy and go from "who's he" to lottery without the Suns having a shot at him.

I say he reminds me of Iggy in that he's best known for his defense, ball handling, and ability to get to the basket - but not for his long shooting. I don't think Roy has Iggy's athleticism, but may be an even more accomplished defender.

This is obviously not a need pick, but more of a bpa type selection.

 

[PhxGametime]

My next mission is to watch Al Horford and Joakim Noah


I've pretty much watched a little of all the other top Prospects this year or another year but I'm going by NBADraft.net and remembering the Top-100 List earlier that was posted this year by sunsfn... oh wait, I haven't seen Tyrus Thomas grrrrr how come his Team is never on Tv? At least every day I look in paper they're not... I dun tape as much but still lol I only have 21 Tapes this year...


Yeah so I'm addicted... I've been watching some games of late but the All-Star weekend took some time up.


Sheesh 3 of the better Prospects for the Suns that I need to watch... Thomas may be Lottery Pick worthy but with 2 Firsts, I should at least watch one Game and I should have a few games of Florida but finding em is a different story, I'm lazy and haven't been putting the Teams on tape

 

[George O'Brien]

Once we get closer to the tournament, we should come up with "watch list" of guys to check out and when they are playing.

 

[panfolk]

Your poor assessment of Haryasz, while only one game, is a little disspiriting... Anyone out there think the brass will go for a big like Boone, Armstrong, or the other latter first round traditional bigs with little offensive talent but more defensive prowess?

 

[overseascardfan]

I believe we have three picks this year so here are the three guys I know we be around when we pick.

1 RD Nick Fazeckas - Reminds me of Dirk his rookie year.
1 RD Matt Harayaz - Needs to get better defensively but Pac 10's best C
2 RD Mardy Collins - Great size just needs to work on his shooting, but true PG's are suppose to be pass first anyway.

Size, depth up front and a big PG to groom for the future.

 

[Chaplin]

With our track record, it is almost a foregone conclusion that we will not have those 3 draft picks come training camp next year. I would guess at the least that our own pick will be gone by the time of the draft. I don't see us having more than just a single first rounder in June.

 

[overseascardfan]

With our track record, it is almost a foregone conclusion that we will not have those 3 draft picks come training camp next year. I would guess at the least that our own pick will be gone by the time of the draft. I don't see us having more than just a single first rounder in June.

I don't know about that. We really don't have any cap room to sign FA's so the only real way to improve our team is through the draft. We do have to extend Diaw and Barbosa but drafting players is going to help us more in the long run especially if we have to trade someone.

 

[ProdigalSun]

I doubt Collins makes it out of the first round. Nbadraft.net has him going 11th right now.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't know about that. We really don't have any cap room to sign FA's so the only real way to improve our team is through the draft. We do have to extend Diaw and Barbosa but drafting players is going to help us more in the long run especially if we have to trade someone.

When have the Suns kept all their draft picks? If we extend Diaw and Barbosa, we're certainly not going to want to pay two late first rounders. If we extend Diaw and Barbosa, we won't need more than one first rounder anyway.

 

[panfolk]

I just watched half the Temple/Duke game. I really, really doubt Collins will be available even at the Lakers pick. On the same note Shelden Williams was impressive. I'm not the most strategically minded person so I'm not certain how well either COULD fit but if we could trade up for one of those two I think we'd be making the best use of 2 picks. I know I waffle a lot on selections but after seeing Williams foot speed and Collins' potential as a triple double machine (as we all hope is Diaw's future) I'd like us to gamble on whether they'd fit the suns system or not. I'd think that Williams would play best in rotation with Amare and not at the same time (lane clogging). Oh well, we probably wouldn't want to trade up for a future bench rotation player that'll leave after his rookie contract.

 

[panfolk]

I believe we have three picks this year so here are the three guys I know we be around when we pick.

1 RD Nick Fazeckas - Reminds me of Dirk his rookie year.
1 RD Matt Harayaz - Needs to get better defensively but Pac 10's best C
2 RD Mardy Collins - Great size just needs to work on his shooting, but true PG's are suppose to be pass first anyway.

Size, depth up front and a big PG to groom for the future.

I thought we gave Minny our 2nd rounder for 2006. I think Fazeckas and Haryasz would both be interesting picks that could very well fit the suns system. But not both. I agree with Chaplin that we won't likely keep both 1st rounders. If we trade up I'd say go after Roy, Shelden Williams, or Collins. If we end up keeping our own pick I'd say Hassan Adams, Fazeckas, or Haryasz. It's the Lakers pick that kind of puzzles me. If we trade one I hope it's a gamble on getting a higher pick in 2007. If Farmar actually declares for 2006 I really hope we could get him with the Lakers pick and see what big falls with our own pick. Most likely though we won't need or want two rookies, like Chaplin said.

 

[sunsfn]

I believe we have three picks this year so here are the three guys I know we be around when we pick.

1 RD Nick Fazeckas - Reminds me of Dirk his rookie year.
1 RD Matt Harayaz - Needs to get better defensively but Pac 10's best C
2 RD Mardy Collins - Great size just needs to work on his shooting, but true PG's are suppose to be pass first anyway.

Size, depth up front and a big PG to groom for the future.

The suns traded their 2nd round pick for Tiski.

Mardy Collins may be there on the suns first pick (Lakers) 12-20, but he will not be there after that.

I like Josh Boone for the suns, (Lakers pick) and also Hilton Armstrong if they keep their late pick in the first round.

I would think the suns will make a draft day trade and get rid of one of the picks and maybe keep one.

This draft is not full of all-stars, but after the first few picks, the area from the 10th through the 20-25th picks are all about the same, depending what a team needs.

The suns always look for the best player available, which is the smart way to draft, and that usually means a swing player. Watch the 6'6" s.f. and 2 guards because that is probably what they will draft if they keep any picks.

The only thing that messes that up for me in past drafts, is if they are drafting for someone else at their pick.

 

[ProdigalSun]

I completely agree. This team as is with Amare, is a championship caiber team and we have no real use two take on two more rookies to develope. If we could somehow package the picks and move up to take a backup point guard (Collins, Williams from Uconn, Farmar if he comes out) or a rotational big man, that would be ideal. Resigning Barbosa and Diaw, keeping James Jones, and bringing in someone from the draft will give this team great depth and a good mix of veterans and youngsters.

 

[panfolk]

I guess this new wrinkle of a new GM will change how we draft. Maybe it'd be better to take at least one big, maybe two (a long lean shotblocker in Armstrong, and a versatile and offensively skilled PF in Haryasz). I know what the websites have posted right now means next to nothing but I can't help but think it looks good. If we reup Barbosa and Diaw I'd be less inclined to get Haryasz as his role would be filled by Diaw, but Armstrong may be a good pick still. Farmar said he wasn't even thinking about the NBA yet so maybe we could trade our picks this year to get a really high pick next year. Dunno. Just like keeping my thread going

 

[overseascardfan]

When have the Suns kept all their draft picks? If we extend Diaw and Barbosa, we're certainly not going to want to pay two late first rounders. If we extend Diaw and Barbosa, we won't need more than one first rounder anyway.

Now that KT is out for 2 to 4 weeks what do you think now? I say we need those guys for depth and eventually to replace Thomas. Plus we are going to get rid of JJax and Burke next year so we will need players to fill our roster but not enough cap room to sign anyone. Plus I'd take 1st rounders over FA scrubs just to fill out our roster.

 

[panfolk]

Nash House
Bell Barbosa
Marion Jones
Amare Diaw Haryasz
KT Grant Armstrong

That's a comfortable list to look at with the exception of having a big name backup point. But the point by committee game seems to be working well. I just think of how the Pistons always stock up on big men... we could do worse than to emulate their strategem.
I'd like to have Roy or Adams but I'm comfortable with our wing rotation and they are all reasonably young. Given the chance I'd take Collins/Haryasz over Armstrong/Haryasz if Mardy slips down to the Laker pick.

 

[panfolk]

Now that KT is out for 2 to 4 weeks what do you think now? I say we need those guys for depth and eventually to replace Thomas. Plus we are going to get rid of JJax and Burke next year so we will need players to fill our roster but not enough cap room to sign anyone. Plus I'd take 1st rounders over FA scrubs just to fill out our roster.

Good point. I think our eyes are a lot more open towards young depth with the injuries we've had.

 

[elindholm]

There is no point listing Grant on depth charts for next season. He's done.